Sounds Around Town: The Flanders 'Hustle'

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The Dedham Transcript

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Posted Mar. 7, 2014 at 9:12 AM

Posted Mar. 7, 2014 at 9:12 AM

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If you want to get a look at guitarist-composer Aaron Flanders in a larger-than life situation, check out the film "American Hustle." He’s the scraggly haired fellow in a scene shot at the Worcester Art Museum, trying to get Christian Bale to introduce him to "the sheik." If you’d rather catch him up close and personal, and in a musical setting, catch his set at Johnny D’s in Somerville on March 7, where he and his instrumental band will be playing tunes from their new CD "The Third Floor."

The Chicago native and longtime Cambridge resident recently spoke about his multi-directional career. He was an extra in the films "Housesitter" and "Blown Away" and a stoned hippie in a New Hampshire State Lottery ad, he’s the Balloon Man, and has written many books about balloon animals, he’s designed music for children’s toys, he’s played guitar on a number of other performers’ albums. The last time an album came out with his name on the cover was in 1994, for the release of "The Blue Jester," a collection of instrumental duos with David Ormonde Thomas, who’s also on the new album, with bassist Fernando Huergo and Joe Cunningham on saxes and flute.

"The tunes on ‘The Third Floor,’ even though they have sax, are sort of folk-rock and blues structures," said Flanders. But asked for a good description of what people will hear at Johnny D’s, he said the no one knows how to classify instrumental music. "People either think jazz or classical, and this is neither of those, though there are elements. I describe it as sophisticated, acoustic guitar-based instrumental pop tunes. The way I look at my tunes, there are often artistic intros: fingerstyle, delicate, pretty intros that sort of lead into joyous, upbeat jams. And the jams are all pretty rocking and bluesing."

Aaron Flanders and his band will play "The Third Floor" in order and in its entirety at Johnny D’s Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. The album will be on sale there. Info, 617-776-2004.

CAMBRIDGE

Arias in the air

But maybe vocals are your thing. Make that operatic vocals. And maybe you’d like to do the singing. Anyone, from professionals to amateurs to those who have limited their singing to solos in the shower, can take part in Open Mic Opera, part of the Tuesday Nights concert series at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 838 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. The next session is on March 11. Folks are invited to bring in the music from their favorite piece, which will be played by collaborative pianist Juliet Cunningham. It all starts at 7 p.m. Suggested donation is $10 at the door. I’m thinking of honing my "Barber of Seville" chops. Info, www.saintpeterscambridge.org/news-events/announcements/tuesdaynightconcertseries

Page 2 of 2 - NATICK

Smithereens rock on

A blast from the past will be going on the Violet Jam stage at The Verve in the Crowne Plaza in Natick when the great blue collar New Jersey rockers the Smithereens appear on March 7. They’ve been around since – gulp! – 1980, and though there have been a few lineup changes over the years, the current band still has original members Pat DiNizio (vocals/guitar), Jim Babjak (guitar), and Dennis Diken (drums) along with bass man Severo Jornacion, who’s been with them for most of the past decade. They’ll be performing material from their newest CD "The Smithereens 2011," but don’t be surprised if they reach back to grab something from early CDs such as "Especially for You" or "Green Thoughts." Who knows, they might even pull out one of their cool Beatles covers from their 2007 treat "Meet the Smithereens!" Showtime is 9 p.m. Info,

Clubs and concerts

There’s still plenty of all kinds of music in store all over the place. House of Blues in Boston will get funkified by George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic on March 7. The sounds of the Carlos Nunez’s Galician bagpipes will kick off Revels Fringe at the Center for the Arts at the Armory in Somerville on March 7. Former Bostonian singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey tries out some standards for his 15th album "The Good Stuff" from which he’ll play selections on March 7 at Amazing Things in Framingham. Heather Maloney opens for Mulvey. Blues-folk-country-rock-jazz singer Les Sampou plugs in her hot electric guitar at Club Passim in Cambridge on March 8. The Ten Tenors present Broadway’s Greatest Hits at the Hanover Theater in Worcester on March 8. Local guitar-harmonica blues king and queen Paul Rishell and Annie Raines will be at Johnny D’s in Somerville on March 11.

Video of the week

Check out The Smithereens' playing "Behind the Wall of Sleep" live, from 1987: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8yPudeA86E